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What TSSI Is
The Tanzania Sustainable Soybean Initiative is an AGCOT-coordinated platform established with initial funding from the Government of Tanzania and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Royal Norwegian Embassy. It brings government, farmers, research institutions, businesses, financiers, regulators and development partners around one national soybean agenda.
TSSI supports implementation of the National Soybean Development Strategy, related macro frameworks and uses Soybean Commodity Compacts to turn national priorities into coordinated market, production and investment action.
A Platform Designed to Expand
TSSI combines complementary institutional capabilities. AGCOT provides coordination and investment facilitation; government institutions provide policy, technical and regulatory leadership; research partners strengthen seed systems and innovation; market actors anchor demand; and financial partners provide capital and risk-sharing solutions.
The original Teaming Agreement signed on March 2023 brought together AGCOT, IITA, WFP/FtMA and ASPIRES Tanzania. The partnership is being expanded through a longer-term collaboration framework intended to include PASS Trust, COPRA and IUCN, while remaining open to additional public, private and development partners.
For farmers
Higher productivity, stronger organizations, reliable services and better market participation.
For industry
Predictable soybean supply for feed, food processing, edible oil and regional trade.
For investors
Clearer pipelines, coordinated risk reduction and commercially viable opportunities.
For Tanzania
More value addition, jobs, nutrition, climate resilience and reduced import dependence.
TANZANIA SUSTAINABLE SOYBEAN INITIATIVE (TSSI)
TSSI coordinates the systems needed to transform soybean into a reliable source of farmer income, feed and food security, industrial growth, and sustainable investment.
The System TSSI Coordinates
National direction
Align policy, institutions and programmes around the National priorities, including crop development strategies.
Market pull
Start with credible demand through the Verified Buyer and Volume (VBV) principle, and build commercially viable value chain opportunities.
Production systems
Connect farmers to seed, extension, mechanization, aggregation and quality services.
Finance and investment
Link viable opportunities to lending, guarantees, blended finance and private capital.
Governance and accountability
Define roles, commitments, safeguards, monitoring and mechanisms for resolving constraints.
Sustainability and intelligence
Integrate climate, biodiversity, inclusion, data, learning and continuous improvement.
How TSSI Delivers
TSSI follows a repeatable delivery cycle that moves from sector evidence to commercially sustainable systems.
| 01 |
Understand Map production, actors, constraints, infrastructure and market demand. |
|---|---|
02 |
Build the business case Translate evidence into investable opportunities across production, markets and value addition. |
03 |
Structure the compact Agree partner roles, commitments, safeguards, financing needs and delivery arrangements. |
04 |
Mobilize and deliver Coordinate services, contracts, finance, investment and market transactions. |
05 |
Learn and scale Track results, resolve bottlenecks and expand models that demonstrate commercial viability. |
Commodity Compacts: The Delivery Engine
A Soybean Commodity Compact is AGCOT’s cluster methodology sharpened into a commodity-specific delivery mechanism. Each compact combines three elements:
Business case
A market-led rationale for sustainable production, trade and value addition.
Finance and investment
Financial models and capital aligned with viable actors and opportunities.
Governance
Partner commitments, safeguards, accountability and results tracking.
Compact development is advancing in priority production and investment geographies, including Ihemi, Mbarali and Ruvuma, and can expand where market demand and partner readiness are established.
National Reach, Locally Anchored Delivery
TSSI’s strategy, policy and sector-coordination role is national. Delivery is anchored in priority soybean geographies, including Mbeya, Songwe, Rukwa, Iringa, Njombe, Morogoro and Ruvuma, with scope to expand through other AGCOT corridors.
Partner with TSSI
TSSI welcomes institutions and businesses committed to building a competitive, inclusive and sustainable soybean industry in Tanzania.
